Things to do in Mumbai
Mumbai offers visitors a unique experience. Few places can combine the glitz of its boutique shops and film scene, the magnificence of its skyscrapers, the majesty of its buildings or the deprivation of its poor. The city is dangerously overcrowded and a large proportion of its inhabitants sleep on the streets, making for a painful visit at times for the tourist and one that will certainly prove enlightening.
The south of the island tends to be the most popular area for visitors. This area, called Colaba, houses the Gateway to India, one of the key sites in the city. This magnificent structure was conceived in 1911 to welcome King George V and Queen Mary and in 1948 the last British troops left from here.
Nearby you will find the Apollo Bunder, a seafront area that is full of shops, stalls and street performers. The Bombay Museum is not to be missed either. This visually striking building contains numerous artefacts from India's varied past and next door you will find the Jehangir art gallery, which is also well worth a visit.
Boats leave regularly from the Gateway to India to Elephanta Island, which is home to the Maharashtra cave temples. The temples were skilfully carved out of the rock, with the highlight of a visit being the statue of Mahesh Murti. Try not to miss the last boat back, which leaves at around 17:30.
For a reminder of just how far back the British connection with India goes, visit St Thomas' Cathedral in the Fort area of the city. Construction on the edifice, which is Mumbai's oldest English building, began in 1672 but was only completed in 1718. It was restored in 2004 and still contains many colonial monuments.
Nearby, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus is well worth visiting even if you have no desire to catch a train. This gothic building was completed in 1887, when it was then known as the Victoria Terminus, and still contains the wonderful carvings of a myriad of animals as well as a 13-foot statue depicting 'Progress'.
Down in Chowpatty, a visit to the Mani Bhavan museum is a must. This is the building where Gandhi stayed during his visits to Bombay and now is a small museum. The simple room where Gandhi resided remains unchanged and visitors can see letters he wrote to Hitler.
Chowpatty is best known, however, for its magnificent beach, which is clean, beautiful and patrolled by lifeguards. Bathers should avoid swallowing the water, however. Many say that the area is best enjoyed at night, where the countless beachside stalls do a roaring trade.
Finally, sports fans should try and take in a game at the 45,000-capacity Wankhede Stadium, where they will find the atmosphere somewhat more fervent than at Lords.
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Things to do
